He had me kneeling to sight the contour of
a section of beach sculptured by waves. On a
hillock, he swung his arm in a circle. "Look!"
he exclaimed as enthusiastically as a child
finding an unexpected wonder under the
Christmas tree.
"From here you can see
islands through 300 degrees of the compass,
and the open Atlantic through the other 60!"
Slave Revolt Changes History's Course
St. John is as rich in history as in the
charms of nature. When the Danes arrived
in the mid-17th century, looking for some
choice West Indian real estate for agriculture,
they found St. Thomas and St. John un
inhabited. Shortly after establishing a colony
on St. Thomas, they attempted to settle the
neighboring island, but the British on Tortola
John. Formerly a sugar estate, the resort is a Sten
popular port of call for sailboats cruising the at C
Virgins' inviting waters.
ever-
drove them off. In 1716 the Danes came back
to St. John and this time were not molested.
On the island's rich soil the colony thrived.
By 1733, St. John had 109 estates planted
in cotton and cane, and 1,295 inhabitants,
slaves outnumbering the planters about five
to one. With its own magnificent harbor in
Coral Bay (pages 66-7), which many have
called the finest in the Lesser Antilles, St.
John seemed to have a bright future.
Then, after a summer of drought, a plague
of insects, and a hurricane, the slaves re
volted. Entering the fort of Fredericksvaern
with bundles of firewood, the leaders whipped
out hidden cane knives, massacred the sol
diers, and fired two shots, the signal for the
slaughter of the planters and burning of the
mills and great houses.
ciled to their sail by the December sun, vacationers
ineel Bay plan an evening voyage. Gentle tides and
present breezes combine for a sailor's paradise.
KODACHROMES
BYNATIONALGEOGRAPHICPHOTOGRAPHER
JAMESL. STANFIELD( N.G .S .